20 Decarbonisation
Social housing is the UK’s unsung hero for sustainability and green heating
With the Warm Homes Social Housing Fund allocations confi rmed, Kensa’s Dr Stuart Gadsden looks back at the progress social housing has made in decarbonising properties, what lessons there are for private housing, and how treating retrofi t as ‘infrastructure’ is key for the future.
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ocial housing is delivering one of the UK’s quiet climate success stories – reducing carbon emissions from homes while cutting energy bills and upgrading some of the country’s most challenging building stock. As much of the private housing sector continues to debate the ‘how’ and
‘when’ of retrofi t, usually settling on individual improvements here and there, social landlords have simply got on with it, embracing coordinated, building-wide approaches to energy effi ciency and low-carbon heating. From high-rise fl ats to dispersed estates, the sector has taken on the complexity of decarbonising at scale and delivered tangible results. T ese upgrades are improving energy performance and comfort for residents and helping to address fuel poverty. Today, nearly three-quarters of social
housing in England is rated EPC A to C. While the EPC system has its fl aws, it remains a useful marker of progress and a clear sign that strategic investment in insulation, heating, and ventilation is paying off .
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? T is progress hasn’t happened by chance. It’s the result of long-term planning, purpose-driven investment, and targeted government support. Previous funding schemes like the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and now the £1.29bn Warm Homes Social Housing Fund (WH:SHF) have helped social landlords prepare, plan, and move beyond piecemeal upgrades to deliver coordinated, whole-building retrofi t programmes.
Decarbonisation Feature
Housing Management & Maintenance June/July 2025
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